Test: The Gonso company, which is now almost 100 years old, has been producing cycling clothing since the 80s. The Swabians address all areas of cyclists with their portfolio - from occasional cyclists to commuters to ambitious athletes. With the Gonso Setter, we looked at winter bib shorts for the latter target group.
When unpacking the Gonso Setter, the first thing that strikes us are the very wide, white and surprisingly thin straps of the pants. Wouldn't these twist a bit quickly? We will have to be surprised. Otherwise, the trousers make a really excellent impression: the workmanship is great, very nice seams, some clever design features and the material also feels very good. Zippers on the leg ends make it easier to put on the trousers afterwards. The fit is very good and our worries about the straps are unfounded: Thin silicone prints on the inside ensure that the straps don't slip or twist - very nice.
Otherwise the trousers are very sporty. The southern Germans rely on a material mix from the two in-house developments Thermo3D and Thermofleece. While the former is used on the thighs and lower back thanks to its windproof and water-repellent properties, Gonso otherwise uses the more breathable thermal fleece so that it doesn't get unnecessarily sweaty on the inside.
With every minute in the saddle we fall more and more in love with the fit of the Gonso Setter. Nothing pulls or pinches, even after several hours we hardly notice the pants. The seat pad (with the somewhat ambiguous name CARBON) literally fits seamlessly into the positive overall impression. The rather thin upholstery offers a surprising amount of comfort and is never uncomfortable. Actually exactly how we want it.
But how do the trousers, which have performed so well so far, hold up in tough winter use? The first thing you notice is that both materials used are pleasantly roughened on the inside. This warms you up when you put it on and simply feels good in cold temperatures. The difference in terms of wind and weather protection is just as noticeable. The Thermo3D material keeps out external influences, while the thermal fleece is more elastic and breathable - but unfortunately it also opens the door to the cold. Especially on longer journeys you can literally feel how the cold is slowly creeping inside. We suspect that the problem lies with the connecting seams between the different materials, as the problem occurs more frequently in the crotch area.
